American Red Cross Text-Book on Home Hygiene and Care of the SickAmerican National Red Cross
Science
American Red Cross Text-Book on Home Hygiene and Care of the Sick
American National Red Cross
Home nursing; Hygiene; Nurses; Nursing
HOT FOOT BATHS properly speaking are medical treatment, but they are
taken by many persons to relieve colds, headache, or insomnia. Let the
patient sit, well wrapped, with her feet in water at about 105°, and
then increase the temperature gradually by adding hotter water. Take
care to add hot water slowly and not to pour it directly upon the
patient's feet or ankles; otherwise she may be scalded. Mustard may be
added to the bath water in the proportion of one tablespoonful of
mustard to each gallon of water. If mustard is to be used make it into a
smooth paste with cold water, thin the paste with warm water, and when
thin enough to pour easily add it to the bath water and stir well. The
bath may continue for 10 to 20 minutes, and the feet should be dried
afterward without friction. The patient should go to bed at once; she
should not wander about, clearing away her foot bath, doing forgotten
things, getting herself chilled, and losing all the good effects.
A foot bath may be given easily to a patient in bed. Bring to the
bedside a blanket, a towel, the tub filled with water, and something
with which to protect the bed; this may be a rubber sheet, bath towel,
old blanket folded, or several thick clean newspapers. Loosen the upper
covers at the foot of the bed, fold them back above the patient's knees,
and cover her legs and feet with the extra blanket making it overlap the
bed clothing so that it will not slip. Flex the patient's knees, put the
bed protector under her feet, place the tub on the side of the bed,
raise the legs and feet with one hand and arm, and slide the tub into
place with the other, raising the elbow in such a way that it keeps the
blanket out of the water. Lower the feet slowly into the water, fold the
towel, and place it over the edge of the tub in order to protect the
patient's knees from the cold rim; then tuck the blanket closely about
the tub and legs and proceed as before. After the bath use the towel,
unless it is wet, to receive the feet when they are withdrawn from the
tub. Remove the tub, dry the feet thoroughly, cover them warmly, and
remake the bed.
COOL SPONGE BATH.--For feverish patients doctors often order cool sponge
baths. In order to give a cool sponge bath, first protect the bed
thoroughly, but leave the patient uncovered except for a towel laid over
the hips. Use cool water, or cool water and alcohol, and have the wash
cloth as wet as it can be without dripping. Bathe the body without
friction, using long, light strokes, and leave each part wet until the
bath has been completed. Do not use soap. Sponge in this way the arms,
legs, chest, and back, but not the abdomen, for ten to twenty minutes,
giving special attention to the neck and inner side of the arms and
legs, because in those places large blood vessels lie nearer the surface
of the body. After finishing the bath dry the body by patting it gently
with towels.
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